The Cleveland Browns are having another eventful week.
The team is preparing for its Week 18 season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, January 9.
This comes on the heels of being officially eliminated from the playoffs on January 2 and losing an ugly game on Monday night football on January 3.
On January 4, we learn that Baker Mayfield is officially going on injured reserve to prepare for the much-needed shoulder surgery.
He is barely out of the building when Mary Kay Cabot revealed her reporting on January 5 about an alleged rift between Mayfield and Coach Kevin Stefanski.
#Browns Baker Mayfield must resolve his differences with Kevin Stefanski soon in case they need to co-exist next season; Also, some names that will be on the radar if they don't https://t.co/waNKPGtnJV
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 6, 2022
She cites unnamed sources who describe an underlying tension in the locker room this season because Mayfield and Stefanski did not see eye to eye on the offense.
No one has publicly addressed this issue until today when offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was asked about this friction between Mayfield and Stefanski.
What AVP Said
#Browns Alex Van Pelt doesn’t see a breakdown in the lines of communication between Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield. pic.twitter.com/cmK0gpmkNb
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) January 6, 2022
“No. Absolutely not. I know the line of communication is wide open between those two guys. Kevin’s always been open, communicative with all the players.”
#Browns OC Alex Van Pelt: on if there's tension between Baker Mayfield – Kevin Stefanski: "No. Absolutely not. I know the line of communication is wide open between those two guys. Kevin's always been open, communicative with all the players."
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) January 6, 2022
What It Means
Losing makes everyone edgy.
We will not fully know how significant the difference of opinion was this season between Coach Stefanski and Baker Mayfield.
The pair worked very well together last season and won a playoff game in Pittsburgh.
Mayfield’s injury way back in Week 2 changed the course of this season.
The Browns faced a critical decision point where they could have opted to shut him down to get the surgery at that time or to continue playing him in his injured state.
They chose the latter and now that the Browns had a disappointing season and failed to make the playoffs, there is plenty of time for fans and media to second guess that decision.
These men are professionals and can certainly figure out a way to work together if that is the path both parties choose to pursue in 2022.
Baker Mayfield is still one of the best quarterbacks in the nfl, and if the browns trade him it will come back to haunt them.
Baker is hurt.give him a chance to redeem himself.
Very good. I feel the same way. He’s like a bird trying to fly with a broken wing.
Mayfield’s problem has always been his cockiness. His ego has hurt the browns, more than his injuries. If he wouldn’t have tried to make that tackle, he wouldn’t have been injured. It only proves he’s too small to play in the NFL. He may never be the same after his surgery. Time for the Browns to move on.
Baker deserves a chance to see what he can do when healthy again. If anyone cares to remember he was off to a great start and let me put this big letters, for you that can’t comprehend “BEFORE” Baker hurt his shoulder.
All the “DRAMA KINGS” , and” DRAMA QUEEN’S” in the media need to quit trying to sensationalize everything, you kind like all media these days. And let this play out.
Played hurt all year, tuff dude ,how do u expect him to play ,with everyone else hurt to,he will be fine
Mary k is the one who needs run out of cleveland
Baker sucks and our problem is we give to many chances to qb who suck. We need to move on before all the talent we got is gone to waste. We already gave up Odell Beckham for Baker and look Odell Beckham is balling. Baker thrown more interceptions then anyone in the league since he was drafted more sacks more pass knocked down he sucks. Everyone wants to put it on the staff and said they played him no he stayed in and played trying to get a big contract. Put the blame where it should be on Baker. We need to move on before time catch up with the talent we got. I’m a Brown’s fan and will never stop supporting them but if you keep Baker we will always finish last and the playoff birth last year came from the talented back field not Baker’s arm he proved he can’t win us a game on his own but Chubb can and did. Let him go trade him and we will be good!!!!